Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing gaseous or liquid fuels or hydrocarbons from solid mineral sources and, more particularly, to a process for producing solid compounds, hereinafter designated fuel precursors, capable of releasing or generating flammable gases or liquids by chemical and/or physical conversion phenomena and to the process and methods to accomplish said fuel generation. The fuel precursors consist primarily of carbides formed from two or more metallic elements combined with carbon. The precursors additionally may contain minor amounts of free metal, unreacted carbon or other impurities.